Results 81-100 of 289 for speaker:Patricia Stephenson

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: When it comes the whole thing around judicial review, is anyone responsible for presenting that data in a way that is actually accessible to the public?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: In the context of planning, I mean.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Yes, maybe that is an issue we can discuss as a committee. I feel like there is a real gap there in terms of the public interest around judicial review and understanding what is driving that, and without that data, we cannot do that. I recognise that it is all available if one goes and looks, but that is not easily accessible. There is a level of public interest linked to that. We should...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank Ms Denning very much.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: It exists, surely. That type of disaggregated data does exist somewhere in the submissions, surely.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Deputy Neville spoke a little bit about judicial reviews being used in an obstructive way. He touched on the point I was making around the data and trying to figure out if that is indeed the case. In response to him, I think Ms Denning said there has been an increase in developers taking out judicial reviews.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Ms Denning touched on this already but I want to put on record that people have a right to challenge decisions. I know she knows that but there can be quite a negative narrative as well around judicial reviews. Obviously, people have a right to challenge planning decisions and we do have planning decisions which are sometimes bad for communities. It is really important to highlight that...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Absolutely, yes. I suppose a degree of flexibility is provided.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Yes, but I would probably argue it should not be in some instances if it would limit people's access to justice.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Yes, absolutely. Regarding prioritisation and the specialised lists, and while I recognise what she is saying around EU law, does Ms Denning think there is any concern with those processes around access to justice in light of the Aarhus Convention?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Just the reducing of the time for the hearing.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Absolutely. Ms Denning talked about many of the changes being very new and that time will be needed to evaluate their effectiveness. Going back again to the Aarhus Convention and Ireland's obligations, based on what Ms Denning has seen so far with the new changes, does she think they will ensure compliance with those obligations, from her perspective?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: In terms of the timely and effective access to justice.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Yes. It will improve access to justice is Ms Denning's view.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Judicial Review and Appeals Process: Engagement with Courts Service (9 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank Ms Denning.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (8 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister of State. I think it is the first time I have had the chance to have a discussion with her in the Chamber. It is good to see her here. We are obviously having this debate in the context of the new national strategy on drugs, and it is within that framework that the Government's approach to the drugs policy is at a bit of a crossroads. I do not believe we can...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I know that much of this discussion is bound up in the changing context and the changing world we have today. The witnesses touched on the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and also mentioned France, China and the US in Iraq. It sounds like what the witnesses are describing with the Security Council has been a long-existing issue and the global context has not really changed. Will they...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: On the Golan Heights and also the scenarios for the 50 troops?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Where would Mr. Kelly see those 50 troops being deployed under this legislation given that there are already those mechanisms for evacuation under the 2006 Act?